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USS Lassen to pass inside China's claimed 12km territory at Spratley's

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  • USS Lassen to pass inside China's claimed 12km territory at Spratley's

    http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/1...233643088.html
    In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

    Leibniz

  • #2
    That was a long time coming and thankfully passed without incident.

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    • #3
      Now what?
      No such thing as a good tax - Churchill

      To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your mistake, is strategic.

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      • #4
        Angry words about sovereignty apparently

        http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nationa.../shdaily.shtml

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        • #5
          And regular rinse and repeat by the US and others until China gets the point.
          In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

          Leibniz

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          • #6
            What kind of armament can you put on an artificial atoll of that size? Supposedly the Chinese themselves consider the atoll a symbolic gesture that stands no chance against a USN warship.
            All those who are merciful with the cruel will come to be cruel to the merciful.
            -Talmud Kohelet Rabbah, 7:16.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Triple C View Post
              What kind of armament can you put on an artificial atoll of that size? Supposedly the Chinese themselves consider the atoll a symbolic gesture that stands no chance against a USN warship.
              From the pictures I've seen, plenty. Especially if there's an airfield.

              Of course, the Chinese are correct: If the U.S. decided to resurface that atoll, it'd be a simple matter of GPS coordinates. But that would mean full-on war with China and nobody wants that.

              So, symbolic gesture becomes (or attempts to become) sovereign territory.
              “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Triple C View Post
                What kind of armament can you put on an artificial atoll of that size? Supposedly the Chinese themselves consider the atoll a symbolic gesture that stands no chance against a USN warship.
                I have heard (via NPR) that they have actually managed to construct runways and docks on some of the atolls and, therefore, consider the islands to be sovereign Chinese territory. Legally, the USS Lassen was within it's rights to sail at the 12-mile limit, but I think the Chinese consider the international demarcation line to be 20 miles (33 km) out; this is a naval version of flying a B-52 over the islands like we did a couple of years ago.

                U.S. Destroyer Sails Near Disputed Islands In South China Sea
                "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

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                • #9
                  American warship in South China Sea: US says more frequent patrols expected

                  Why are the Chinese always complaining like a teenager? Use the damn J-20 invisible fighter and blast the US warship.
                  Politicians are elected to serve...far too many don't see it that way - Albany Rifles! || Loyalty to country always. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it - Mark Twain! || I am a far left millennial!

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Oracle View Post
                    American warship in South China Sea: US says more frequent patrols expected

                    Why are the Chinese always complaining like a teenager? Use the damn J-20 invisible fighter and blast the US warship.
                    Where's that darn "like" button again!?!?!?!?
                    "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Oracle View Post
                      American warship in South China Sea: US says more frequent patrols expected

                      Why are the Chinese always complaining like a teenager? Use the damn J-20 invisible fighter and blast the US warship.
                      "Skin that smoke wagon and go to work. Or are you just gonna stand there and bleed?"
                      "Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

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                      • #12
                        Back in the 80's & 90's, we did FON all the time, but honestly we did steer clear of the Spratley's for the most part, so as not to antagonize them.
                        They have been building up and militarizing those atolls for decades. I remember them bringing out a tank and parking it on one. :)

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                        • #13
                          Considering that the PLAN already has sailed quite close to the Alaskan coastline, a lot of their protests sound like it's contractually obliged.

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                          • #14
                            Beijing will retaliate with its demilitarized Coast Guard; i.e, they block the way of FON with fishing vessels and other "civilian" ships so if the US tries to retaliate it'll be blasting "civilians" and it can make a scene. It's what it's been doing in the SCS for ages.

                            Beijing's endgame will probably be a negotiated solution with claimants, because they can't simply be so daft as to think they can unconditionally annex the SCS. They probably want military sovereignty and suzerainity in the region; economic benefits can be traded away, but they are taking a damn long time to get to the end-game. I guess if they have an irritating wound, they see no incentive to pull back and pull out.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Inst View Post
                              Beijing will retaliate with its demilitarized Coast Guard; i.e, they block the way of FON with fishing vessels and other "civilian" ships so if the US tries to retaliate it'll be blasting "civilians" and it can make a scene. It's what it's been doing in the SCS for ages.

                              Beijing's endgame will probably be a negotiated solution with claimants, because they can't simply be so daft as to think they can unconditionally annex the SCS. They probably want military sovereignty and suzerainity in the region; economic benefits can be traded away, but they are taking a damn long time to get to the end-game. I guess if they have an irritating wound, they see no incentive to pull back and pull out.
                              They're probably just betting that if they offer to settle for the status quo 5-10 years from now, everyone will jump right in (besides, Xi has a lot of other stuff on his plate).

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